Felix Assouline entered the cigar world in 1997 and opened his first cigar factory in Honduras in 2004 before achieving a 90 rating in Smoke Magazine with the original release of their EGO. After about nine years in the industry Felix took a six year hiatus to focus on his family. In 2013 Felix found his way back into the cigar industry opening up a new factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Here is a bit more information pulled from their website:

Felix Assouline Cigars is proud to introduce four new premium cigar brands. Made in our factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, the Capital of Tobacco, our cigars marry the perfect mix of tobacco from the richest fields in Nicaragua and Honduras. Each blend is created to enrich your smoking experience leaving you wanting more. Through careful craftsmanship, we roll our cigars the traditional Cuban way using the knowledge learned from one of the great masters, Alejandro Robaina. We then take the extra time to box press our cigars to fuse the flavors of the different leaves together. The results are 4 distinctly rich flavors found in our introductory brands: EGO, Havana Sunrise Reserve and Ringo.

While I personally haven’t seen these in any of my local shops yet, Felix Assouline has actually opened up an online store through their website where you can purchase their product and have it shipped directly to your door.

OK, back to the giveaway. Felix Assouline will be giving TWO of our lucky readers the chance to try each of their cigars by offering each of the two winners one of these great samplers:

Again, it carries one of each: the EGO, the L.R. Something Special, The Ringo, and the Havana Sunrise Reserve. Now how do you enter? We wanted to make it simple so all you have to do is one, or all of these steps. Each one you complete will give you one entry into the contest.

• COMMENT on this entry and let us know who you think will win the big game this weekend, the Broncos or the Seahawks.
• LIKE Felix Assouline on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FelixAssoulineCigars
• FOLLOW Felix Assouline on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FACigars

The winners will be chosen Monday, February 3rd by the Felix Assouline team. We ask that you are 18 and over (21 and over in New York!), and that you live in the United States.

ALSO, Felix Assouline has created an AWESOME deal exclusively to our Casas Fumando readers! Extra money off and more free stuff with purchases? Yeah, they’re pretty awesome over there. Check out the offer here.

Now, Let us know who’s going to win!

The post Cigar Giveaway! Win a 4-Pack Sampler from Felix Assouline appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

As mentioned in last week’s review, Felix Assouline Cigars currently has four brands under their belt: EGO, Ringo, Something Special, and Havana Sunrise Reserve. The Limited Reserve Something special is produced in six vitolas at Felix Assouline’s factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Available vitolas include the Elegant (5 ½ by 44), Sublime ( 5 by 52), Phoenix (6 ½ by 54 Belicoso), Virtuoso (6 ½ by 54), Exquisite (6 ½ by 58 Torpedo), and Majestic (6 ½ by 58).

The Facts

Samples Provided by Felix Assouline Cigars
MSRP: $4.50
Vitola: Sublime
Size: 5 by 52
Wrapper: Habano Criollo 98
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Drink: Water
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 30 Minutes

Pre-light

As I remove the Limited Reserve Something Special from the cellophane, I am greeted with a pungent aroma of musty earth and manure, with an underlying sweetness.  The color on the Habano Criollo 98 wrapper is mostly consistent in its rusty-brown color.  I do not encounter any soft spots as I press lightly down the stick.

The foot aroma reminds me of potpourri that is common around the winter holidays with a rich, warm, welcoming aroma of  cinnamon, nutmeg, and cedar. A shallow cut of the large double cap opens up a free draw.   The cold draw is much of the same flavors as the foot aroma and a spice can be felt on my lips.

First Third

The Limited Reserve Something Special opens with a beautiful, rich cedar flavor. The smoke has a slight tartness to it that is actually complimenting the richness quite nicely. Some mild spice can be felt in my mouth and bright, white pepper notes show-off on the retrohale. At the one inch point, a lot of sweetness has entered the mix but quickly fades. The cigar has a  clean cedar finish. The burn-line is thick and edgy but no need for a touch-up so far. The Something Special is burning slow with the first gray, flaky ash dropping at twenty-five minutes.

Middle Third

The cigar is producing a satisfying amount of smoke with each small draw. The cedar remains at the core of the smoke into the second third. The mustyness that I picked up during the pre-light inspection has found its way into the profile, along with some coffee. Wow, the cinnamon and spice have picked up a couple of notches making this one rich cigar. Once again the sweetness  that I experienced in the first third arrived and departed quickly. This sweetness is different than a chocolate or sugar-cane. To me, it tastes more artificial. The burn is mostly in-line as I put a close to the middle third.

Final Third

The spice feel in the mouth has changed from a peppery spice to more of a jalapeno heat that is somewhat acidic. The woodsy cedar notes have shifted to more of a hickory wood, especially in the room aroma.  Toasty bread-like notes , along with a faint chocolate sweetness are entering the mix as the cigar begins to wind down. The flavors are staying enjoyable to the end.  Only one  quick touch-up was required in the last third.

Wrap-up

This 5 by 52 cigar smoked incredibly slow and delivered some excellent flavors for one and a half hours. The woodsy cedar made up the core of the smoke with shifts and variations of the rich spice notes throughout the experience. Due to the richness in the Something Special, I could see this pairing incredibly well with a drink that would offset the richness……maybe some COFFEE! Prior to smoking the L.R. Something Special I was unaware of the price. Now knowing the $4.50 MSRP, this is an easy buy in my book.  I am not sure how readily available Felix Assouline cigars are, but if you happen to stumble across this stick, give it a whirl and let us know what you think.

The post Felix Assouline Cigars – L.R. Something Special appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.